Support



F. H. BOLING Feb 16, 1937.

SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1935 Feb. 16, 1937. I F, H BOUNG 2,070,823

SUPPORT Filed Aug. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNHTE g'iAES i EFEQE.

3 Claims.

This invention aims to provide a truss pad so constructed that it may be flattened out, to any desired degree, to put the necessary pressure on a rupture, the pad being resiliently reenforced, so that the necessary pressure may be obtained, and novel means being provided for manipulating the pad and mounting it on the body of the wearer, so that the aforesaid pressure will result.

'It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in front elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention and mounted on the body of a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the pad and attendant parts;

Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the pad;

Fig. 6 is a top plan of the pad, the view showing portions of the belt;

Fig. 7 is a rear elevation showing a modified p Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the device depicted in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 39 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modification;

Fig. 11 is an elevation showing another modification.

In Figs. 1 to 6, the numeral l designates a pad, preferably made of rubber or other resilient material. The pad I is of approximately triangular or shield shape, the pad preferably having an upwardly convexed top edge and laterally convexed side edges, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 2. The body 2 is forwardly curved, both longitudinally and transversely, so that there is a recess in the forward or outer side of the pad. Here note that the surface marked by the numeral 3 in Fig. 3 is the inner or rear surface, that is, the surface that is next to the bodyofthe wearer. In order to strengthen the body2,and makeit efficient to put the necessary pressure on the rupture,the body 20f (Cl. YES-$9) the pad is provided, in its recess, with a reenforcement,the reenforcement comprising ribs 4 disposed at an angle to each other, the ribs being integrally joined together at their places of crossing, and being formed integrally with the body 2 of the pad. The ribs d extend outwardly practically to the margin of the body 2. The body 2 has upper tabs 5 and a lower tab 6, these tabs being supplied with openings I, adapted to receive securing elements 8 and 9, the securing elements 8 being individual to the upper tabs 5, and the securing element 9 being individual to the lower tab 6.

A circumferentially adjustable belt it is provided and, preferably, is made of resilient material. The securing elements 8 connect the upper portion of the pad I with the forward portion of the belt Ill.

The perineal strap is marked by the numeral H, and preferably. is made of resilient material. The perineal strap i l is connected to the lower end of the pad I by the securing element 9. The upper end of the perineal strap I! (Fig. 4) abuts, as shown at l2, against the lower edge of the belt I 0. A strip 1 6, preferably made of the same material as the perineal strap H, is overlaid on the upper portion of the perineal strap H and upon the belt l0 and is secured to those parts by any suitable means, such as the stitching shown at l5. An eye i6 is mounted on the belt lit for adjustment circumferentially of the body of the wearer, and carries a buckle l l, to which the end of the perineal strap I l is connected.

Recalling that the surface of the pad shown at 3 in Fig. 3 is disposed against the rupture, it will be understood that when perineal strap H and the belt I!) are tightened, the pad is flattened out, more or less, by the pull of the perineal strap II in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 3, and by the pull of the belt in the direction of the arrows B in Fig. 2. The necessary pressure thus is put on the rupture, it being possible to vary the pressure within wide limits, since the normal tendency of the pad is to curve away from the body of the wearer, as shown in Fig. 3. The capacity of the pad for exerting a pressure of considerable strength is enhanced because the pad includes a reenforcement, such as the reenforcement afforded by the ribs 4, the said ribs tending, also, to prevent the pad from losing the general contour which it presents in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In Figs. *7, 8, and 9, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suffix a. The modification consists in replacing the ribs 6 of Fig. 5 with a different kind of reenforcement, for instance, a mass of resilient material, such as sponge rubber shown at l 8, the mass of resilient material being secured in the concavity of the body 2a.

In Fig. 10, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufi'lx b. The pad I b may be detachable and is connected by separable fasteners 81) to the belt "lb and associated parts.

In Fig. 11, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suffix c. The belt I00 and associated parts have their ends vulcanized to the pad lc. Without any change in the showing of Fig. 11, the

parts Inc may also be regarded as tabs vulcanized on the pad lo and capable of being assembled with the belt and associated parts detachably, in any suitable way, for instance by means of the fasteners 8b of Fig. 10.

Generally considered, the pad has a high degree of resistive resiliency, which enables the pad to exert an increased pressure on'the rupture, when the perineal strap II is tightened, it being observed that, owing to the nature of the pad; it is not necessary to have the perineal strap or the belt l0 excessively tight, even when strong pressure on the rupture is indicated. The pad tends to flatten out on the body of the wearer and is more comfortable to the wearer than devices constructed otherwise. The pad retains its place on the rupture, and will not slip off, regardless of the posture or exertions of the wearer. Since the pad tends to flatten out, it is inconspicuous and will present no objectionablebulge in the garments of the wearer. It will handle hernias not capable of being controlled by other appliances. If the rupture is large, the pad may be increased-ac cordingly, without adding burdensome bulk or Weight. The simplicity of the article commends it to the ruptured. Save for the places where the pad is anchored by the securing elements 8 and 9, the edges of the pad are free, and the pad is not hard or rigid. The pad is capable of being shaped to suit individual cases of hernia.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a truss pad comprising a resilient body having the form of an approximate triangle, the body being curved longitudinally and transversely, both internally and externally, toward the torso of the wearer, to form an open recess in the forward portion of the body, a resilient reenforcement connected to the body within the recess and substantially c0- extensive in area with the recess; and supporting, pad-tensioning and pad-compressing means connected to the body at the angles of said approximate triangle, thereby leaving the reenforcement free, and the body free throughout the major portion of its periphery, for the stretching and alteration of form incident to a change in the curvature of the body as the pressure of the pad on the torso of the wearer is increased.

2. A truss pad constructed in accordance with claim 1, and wherein the reenforcement consists of ribs disposed at an angle to each other, the ribs being connected together where they cross, and being connected to the body.

3. A truss pad constructed as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reenforcement comprises a mass of spongy, resilient material substantially filling the recess.

FRANK H. BOLING. 

